Justice News

St. Cloud Man Pleads Guilty To Robbing TCF Bank

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a 36-year-old St. Cloud man pleaded guilty to robbing the TCF Bank located at 1001 Fourth Street in St. Cloud. Fehd El Mehdi Kourima specifically pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. Kourima, who was indicted on June 10, 2013, entered his plea before United States District Judge Paul A. Magnuson.

In his plea agreement, Kourima admitted that on May 5, 2013, he stole approximately $1,000. At approximately 12:30 p.m. that day, he entered the bank, which is located inside a grocery store, approached a teller, and presented a note that read, “Put as many $100 bills as you can into this envelope in fifteen seconds and no one gets hurt.” After receiving the money, Kourima left the premises and ran to a vehicle parked outside. Kourima was arrested later that day.

For his crime, Kourima faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Judge Magnuson will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled. This case is the result of an investigation by the St. Cloud Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katharine T. Buzicky and Nathan P. Petterson.